In keeping with his habit of governing in the dark, Rick Scott topped off the unveiling of his proposed budget privately with yet another private dinner at the Governor’s mansion last night for select state legislators. At the dinner were Sens. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and they were invited there to “discuss” Scott’s budget.

If you’ve kept up with Scott’s ego, you know that the last few days he’s been crowing that his budget should be a model for the entire nation. After a whole month of experience, Scott now feels that President Obama should also take his freely offered advice on how to govern. This probably shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, after all during his campaign he often made the mistake of thinking he was running against President Obama, and even skipped mentioning his true running mate, Alex Sink, several times in his ads. So much so that she laughed it off herself in her own ads. (I thought she deserved kudos for resisting an eye-roll on camera.)

It seems Scott is doubling down on the idea that he alone can lead the nation with his draconian budget slashing ideas according to an account of last night’s secret boys club meeting:

Later in the night that theme would be repeated when one of Scott’s top aides would suggest to all three senators that the nation will be watching to see if the Legislature enacts Scott’s “fiscally conservative” budget.

Yes, the nation is watching, but not for the reason Scott thinks it is. The nation is watching, and the nation is saying “Can you believe that those people actually elected that guy??” It’s not just that Florida actually elected the guy who was never charged with Medicare fraud, but whose former company set the record for Medicare fraud fines and is a textbook case, and now claims he wants to run the state like a business. (What could possibly go wrong in a state largely dominated by elderly residents?) It’s that combined with all that, Scott is also clueless on how to govern, and it shows.

Note to the ever-watchful nation: be afraid! Rick Scott announced last week that he would be spending a great deal of time in Washington, D.C., specifically on a monthly basis. (Gosh, I wonder if that might have anything to do with assisting the GOP in trying to dismantle the new Affordable Care Act?) If that’s the case, the “nation” may want to sleep with one eye open from now on. Don’t fall under a false sense of security if you aren’t aware of his presence. Just because you don’t see him or hear of him won’t necessarily mean he isn’t there. He operates under cover of darkness. As a resident of Florida I can tell you we have no clue what he’s up to down here most of the time. We only find out after the fact. Chances are unless you’re a lobbyist, business owner, or you’re made of money and want to throw some of it at him, you won’t either.

Yesterday was a banner day for Republicans in Congress. It was also a defining moment for the Party as a whole.

After eight years of marching in lockstep with the Bush-Cheney Administration on everything from tax cuts for the rich, right on down to lying us into wars and giving the nod to torture, just for starters, they took yet another “stand.”

The party that vowed they would like nothing more than to see our President fail (hence, the country) and that their number one priority is to see that he is a one term President, stooped to new lows yesterday. And yes, low EVEN for them.

In their quest to achieve the only goals in their platform; power and as much money as they can possibly get their greedy hands on, they also vowed to hold their breath like spoiled children until they get what they want: tax cuts for the rich, or as I call them, bailouts and bonuses for millionaires and billionaires. The only difference is when spoiled children hold their breath, they aren’t cutting off the oxygen for their entire family. But eventually children are smart enough to know that holding their breath is a dumb idea.

Not so the Republican Party. They are determined to choke off the oxygen of 98% of the country so that the 2% of the wealthiest may breathe a little easier than they do now. Besides, they have lots of money to spend on things like oxygen tanks, so no worries.

It hasn’t been enough that the Republicans have blown our economy on wars of choice, bank bailouts and yes, tax cuts for the rich, they want more. To prove it they have voted against just about everything that has come before them so far to prove it. Just to name the most the most recent, yesterday they blocked the chances of the DREAM Act and a repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. They blocked the National Defense Authorization Act. The party that goes by the mantra “Support The Troops” and claims only THEY can keep us safe is merely an illusion. They hide behind their flag pins.

Not only do the Republicans refuse to support the very troops, be they gay or otherwise, who are fighting their ginned-up wars, the troops aren’t the only ones they’re using. Yesterday they stooped to a new low. They blocked Democratic legislation to provide medical care for 9/11 first responders.

Let me repeat that:

THEY BLOCKED DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE FOR 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS

This isn’t the first time they’ve blocked it either. This is just the first time they blocked it while also holding its victims for ransom. If some MORE of those victims die in the process, well so be it. These Republicans don’t really care. After all, the so called “War On Terror” is good for their bottom line. Why not squeeze even more out of it while they’re at it?

I’ve heard speculation that when Republicans have more control in Congress next year, they may put forth their own legislation for some of these things they’re voting against now simply in an attempt to look like heroes in the long run. To them that may seem logical. They probably see this as a win since the public seems to have a short memory. Add to that, they have a vested interest in keeping the public stupid and in the dark. That’s what FOX-GOPTV is for after all.

Well sorry GOP. There are a lot of us who have really good memories, and we plan to remind those who don’t every chance we get. Today seems like a good day to start.

So here, along, with Florida’s own Sen. “Stand-In” George LeMieux, are the names of those Republicans who yesterday told 9/11 first responders who breathed in all those toxic fumes nine years ago (those who are still alive) that the price of their bravery is just too high for them to pay.

President Obama has recorded a new radio ad this week for Kendrick Meek’s Senate campaign.

The text of the ad:

President Obama:

This is Barack Obama and I want you to know why I strongly support Kendrick Meek for U.S. Senate.

Kendrick’s been a powerful voice for Floridians: standing up to special interests, to hold Wall Street accountable, fighting the insurance industry to make sure health care isn’t denied to our children because of a preexisting condition, working to eliminate subsidies to banks so young people can afford a college education, and Kendrick strongly opposes extending tax breaks for the wealthy and has worked tirelessly to expand the middle class and support small businesses.

So please join me in supporting Kendrick Meek for Senate.

Because if we work together, he will win.

Announcer:

Go to KendrickMeek.com to learn more. Or text”join” to 35736. That’s “join” to 35736 to get involved today.

The candidates for Attorney General have both won endorsements because of their stances on the state’s challenge to the federal health care reform.

Republican Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi’s pledge to continue the challenge has won her the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Business.

“Floridians do not want and cannot afford this unconstitutional federal health care law, which I believe is the most expansive entitlement program ever created,” Bondi said.

The NFIB is a plaintiff in the lawsuit currently being heard in Pensacola.

Gelber’s support for the healthcare legislation that went into effect last week won him support from the Florida Nurses Association.

“Dan Gelber has been a long time advocate for Florida families and our members know we can count on him to fight the rampant Medicaid fraud in Florida that is costing taxpayers billions and limiting access to quality medical care for our most vulnerable citizens,” FNA President Andrea Gregg said.

Gelber has called the healthcare lawsuit frivolous and has predicted the federal government would prevail.

“Our nurses see on a daily basis how accessibility to quality medical care can make a world of difference in a person’s life, and I look forward to working with them to fight Medicaid fraud so that we can reduce costs to taxpayers and provide more Floridians with the care they need,” Gelber said.

Wow, here’s a real “shocker.” Rick Scott unveiled his “tax and insurance” plan yesterday, where he proposes restrictions on lawsuits. The plan is centered around property insurance.

If you read closer though, he proposes some “restrictions” on other types of lawsuits. Not surprisingly, involving doctors.

Scott’s proposal also calls for several new restrictions on lawsuits, including limiting lawsuits against doctors who work at county health departments and those medical doctors who work on behalf of Medicaid. Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has already said that he will likely pursue lawsuit restrictions against Medicaid providers next year.

Scott released a booklet outlining his proposals, on insurance and tort reform. The part addressing physicians is contained in a short paragraph on page 12 of a 16 page booklet entitled Medical Related Reform.

He proposes restrictions on lawsuits against doctors? Gosh, why do you suppose that might be?